(Minghui.org) Three Falun Gong practitioners were arrested outside the Chenzhou Daily newspaper by officers from the Suxian District Police Station on November 14, 2016.

The Chenzhou Daily published an article slandering the founder of Falun Gong on October 31. Falun Gong practitioners went to the Chenzhou Daily to clarify the facts about Falun Gong and ask them to retract the fallacious report. The newspaper staff said that the Chenzhou 610 Office ordered them to publish the report.

Falun Gong practitioners went to the 610 Office several times to clarify the facts. The staff gave them the runaround, claiming that they had to attend meetings.

More than 20 practitioners went to the 610 Office again on the morning of November 14. The staff suggested that they meet with the Political and Legal Affairs Committee (PLAC). The PLAC told them to go to the Appeals Office, who told them to go talk to the PLAC. Someone then suggested the practitioners talk to the Chenzhou Daily.

The practitioners later went again to the Chenzhou Daily. Officers in two police cars showed up soon after their arrival. One officer videotaped the practitioners. Mr. Xiao Xiaoping tried to stop him from videotaping. The video recorder fell to the ground when the practitioner tried to push it aside, which gave the officer the opportunity to grab him and hold him tight. Mr. Lei Anxiang and Mr. Zhu Qiuping tried to dissuade the officers and were arrested as well.

The three practitioners' whereabouts are unknown.